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Updated October 11, 2026
A disposable vape isn't garbage. Every one contains a lithium-ion battery, and lithium-ion batteries in the wrong bin can start fires in garbage trucks and waste facilities. Here's how to get rid of vapes safely in Toronto, based on the City's current guidance.
A lithium-ion battery that gets crushed or punctured in a garbage truck or at a sorting facility can short-circuit, overheat and catch fire. The City warns that household hazardous waste can harm workers and cause fires and explosions in collection trucks and at waste management facilities. Toronto Fire Services counted 76 lithium-ion battery fires in the city in 2024, up 38% from the year before, and fire officials blamed discarded lithium-ion batteries for a garbage truck fire in Etobicoke in August 2026.
Dropping off household hazardous waste is free for residents. These City depots accept it:
Hazardous waste hours are typically Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday mornings, but they change on holidays and during repairs, so check the City's depot page before you go. The Dufferin depot doesn't take hazardous waste.
These one-day drop-off events run in neighbourhoods across the city from April to the end of September. The 2026 season is over, so watch the City's schedule next spring.
If you have between 10 and 50 litres or kilograms of household hazardous waste, the City's free Toxic Taxi will pick it up from your home. Book online or through 311. It's handy if you're clearing out old batteries, paint or other hazardous items at the same time.
Ask your building management whether they collect batteries or hazardous waste for residents.
Usually not. Ontario's battery recycling rules cover batteries sold on their own, not batteries sold inside products, and the province's Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority lists vapes as an example of products that aren't covered. Call2Recycle does run a vape recycling program, but only in Quebec. Many store bins are meant for loose household batteries, so ask before you drop a vape in one.
Some websites suggest cutting a disposable open to remove the battery. Don't. Health Canada advises against modifying vaping devices, and the City of Toronto says never to tamper with or modify a battery. A punctured lithium-ion cell can catch fire, and the e-liquid inside contains nicotine.
Every disposable you finish means another battery to dispose of. A pod system keeps the battery and replaces only the pod, whether that's a prefilled pod or one you refill yourself. If you go through a lot of disposables, our guide to pod vapes vs disposables compares the options, including cost per mL.
Can I put a disposable vape in the Blue Bin if it's empty?
No. Even when the e-liquid is gone, the battery is still inside. It's household hazardous waste.
Does Ontario have a vape take-back program?
Not that we could find. Ontario's battery program doesn't cover batteries built into products like vapes, and Call2Recycle's vape program only runs in Quebec.
What should I do with a vape that stopped working?
First check whether it just needs a charge. Our troubleshooting guide covers the common problems. If it's finished, treat it as household hazardous waste.
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